John SHYING and John SHEEN - were they one and the same as MAI Sai Ying?

MAK Sai Ying arrived in N.S.W. from Canton (his birthplace) in 1818 as a free man, and settled, originally at least, and for two periods either side of a five year return visit to China, in the Town of Parramatta.

麥 世  英

 

The following are samples of the sign he made on archived documents in N.S.W.:

 

 

The following is very similar to the characters MAK Sai Peng used to sign his Power of Attorney in 1831, the third being "peng" - a translation of the English word "friend":

麥    世   朋友

Once again, the current representation of the third or "peng" character does not exactly match MAK's "signature" in the third segment of it.

In China, the family surname is traditionally recorded first, before the "given" names.
And once again, it is likely that neither MAK, nor his English neighbours in Parramatta, fully comprehended this significant cultural difference, at least not initially. MAK himself probably learnt the lesson when his 30 acre grant went missing because of his own use of the additional character "peng" instead of "ying."

An accurate version of the first character has emerged (with thanks to Leon LYELL):

麥世英

Leon added:

"The characters in Shying marriage certificate name are 麥世英. The first one -the 'surname' is different from what’s on your webpage but you have correctly noted that it looks different from the written character. Your Cantonese restaurateur should confirm the new character as ‘Mak’. 

 "In ‘Mandarin’ (Pinyin) the pronunciation is Mài shìyīng ‘Mai’ rhymes with ‘tie’, ‘shi’ rhymes with ‘the’ (ie not thee but a very short sound) and ‘Ying’ rhymes with ‘sing’. The marks above the syllables show the tone, ie whether the vocalization should become lower or stay flat in this case. A wee problem for the study of Chinese ancestry is that because Pinyin is ubiquitous (thanks to the great helmsman) it has become very difficult to trace people who spoke different languages/dialects (the word may vary depending on one’s prejudices).

 "The man himself claimed to be a native of Canton and the usual Cantonese pronunciation today would be ‘Mak Sai Ying’ (I don’t know the tones) which is where that vocalization came from. In the Elizabeth Farm daybook, his name was written as ‘Matchiping’ which we can guarantee is somewhat mangled but confirms he probably used the ‘Peng’ (or Pong) character at that early stage which matches the use of Mark O’Pong in his 1820 land grant. I’m trying to find out where this daybook is now (it was at Elizabeth Farm in 1992) and whether we can get a copy of those pages in case they have any more clues about him apart from him being a carpenter.

 "If he was Hakka, Dr Siu-Leung LEE, who was a biochemist but regarded as an authority on Hakka culture, tells me that the pronunciation of 麥世英 would be 'Mak Sie Ying [or] Mark Sie Ing. Spelling is not a definitive answer'."

Leon has also provided me with a better rendition of the third segment of the alternate peng/pong character:

朋友

Leon  added further:

"朋友 is indeed friend ('pung yow' in Mandarin and very similar in Cantonese), however, it would not be used in a name. The word in the name is certainly 'pung' and it signifies 'friends'. The problem is what looks like the 4th character. It could be intended to be a part of the 3rd character but is too stretched out for that (to my non-expert eye). If the two bits were one character it would look more like 鹏. But to me, it looks like a separate character 号 (not 友) which usually means 'number' or 'date' and to me seems out of place. My Cantonese friend sort of agrees it looks like a fourth character except that is doesn't make sense to do that. This is apparently something done now at the end of the name of a ship. Maybe he was thinking about the ships he was about to board?"

Either which-way, his descendants have been unable to locate details of his death and burial under the name of John SHEYING (by which name he was married in 1823 to Sarah THOMPSON) alias SHYING (by which surname several of their four sons were baptized).

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

John SHEEN was buried at Rookwood in 1880, with his wife Margaret (maiden surname McGOVERN, who died in 1875); he was of a similar age to John SHYING, and had arrived in the Colony about the same time; he was also a native of China.
Several of his descendants believe, and perhaps not without good reason, that they were one and the same man.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The following is an attempt to locate as many documented mentions of both of these men, separated by the year 1845 - concerning John SHYING up to his last known activity in Parramatta in 1844 - and followed by John SHEEN, from the time of his marriage in Sydney in 1846.

Many of the original documents have been microfilmed, and the images digitalized in various capacities, but none of which are free to publish on-line without permission of the copyright holders. As I have yet to seek that permission, I will, in the meantime, have to settle for transcriptions of them.

These records have been accessed in the State Library of New South Wales in Macquarie Street, Sydney, the Library of the Society of Australian Genealogists (S.A.G.) in Kent Street, Sydney, and at State Records (formerly N.S.W. Archives) at Kingswood. Further information has been included from the National Library of Australia's holding of newspapers through it's trove web-site.

Several other people have already carried out research into John SHYING, some of which has been published by the Parramatta District Historical Society Inc in their Journals. I have yet to visit the Society at Hambledon Cottage, and will attempt to do so after Christmas (2018).

Further private research notes have been deposited in the Mitchell Library by Winsome DOYLE and Valerie BLOMER [MSS 5857]. I have yet to sight all of the original documentary references in these sterling efforts, but it is interesting to note that none of them canvass any possibility of him being buried as John SHEEN.

However, Valerie BLOMER has more recently published an on-line account of her ancestor John SHYING's life story, and it appears that she had done considerably more research since her papers in Mitchell indicate - including a serious consideration of the two men being the same.

It is an extra-ordinary account of John SHYING's life, and I commend it to anyone who seeks the truth of it. Entitled "An Alien in the Antipodes" and dated 28 July 1999, a copy may be read online at on near www.archive.li/9LNG4 (or it will get you close).

I have no intention to replicate her research results here, as they are impeccable.

But my current desire, even as someone who has no family connections to him, is to sight the original documents attached to his Colonial existence, first hand, if I can.

I have also begun to insert additional information, some observations, with the inevitable questions which arise from it all, and [in this format].

Any correspondence will be most welcome.

Chris PIGOTT, Potts Point, N.S.W. - cgpigott@yahoo.com.au

________________________________________________________________

MAK SAI YING alias JOHN (PONG) SHYING.

18 June 1815 - Arrival in Port Jackson of the ship 'Northampton,' with convicts and other passengers, including a Sarah Jane THOMPSON (whom I had thought may have possibly become John SHYING's future first wife), then aged about 11, her mother Sarah O'NEAL, a convict, and her son John O'NEAL (Sarah Jane's younger half-brother), aged about 6 years - however, her ship was later recorded (in the 1823-25 Muster and 1828 Census - see below) as the 'Morley,' arriving in 1820, as a free settler - so evidently there were two Sarah Jane THOMPSONs. The 'Morley' left London on 22 May 1820, sailed direct to Hobart (29 August), "...bringing 120 female convicts and several free women whom passages had been allowed, to join their husbands" [Hobart Town Gazette, 2 September], and completed her voyage to Sydney on 12 September, having landed 50 female prisoners in Hobart, "... and brings 21 to Port Jackson, the whole of whom are in good health... and four free women, with eleven children" [Sydney Gazette, 16 September].

24 February 1818 - Arrival in Port Jackson of the ship 'Laurel,' Captain GREEN, with MAI Sai Ying (the later John SHYING) on board.

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 25 April, under Ship News:

"Yesterday arrived the ship Laurel, Captain GREEN, from Bengal, with a cargo consisting mostly of teas. She left Bengal the 1st of August for China, and called at Malacca, which was still under command of the British Governor FARQUHAR, the Dutch Government not yet having been established there."

Ditto, under another heading of Sydney:

"From Captain GREEN, we learn that a commotion had taken place at Saparosa, in which the whole of the Dutch garrison had been cut off by the native inhabitants, which melancholy information had been forwarded to Canton by a Company's cruiser...

"The Laurel reached Canton the 5th of October, and left 20th November for this port, experiencing a fair passage, with the exception of a dangerous becalming for several days close into one of the shoally islands of the Anambers. She called also at Port Dalrymple, on her way, and remained for some days, during which period, we are sorry to learn, several rash and thoughtless people under sentence of the law had taken to the woods, and were not apprehended when she came away."

Valerie BLOMER, in her "An Alien in the Antipodes," noted that the 3rd Officer on the voyage of the 'Laurel' from Canton in 1818 was George BLAXLAND, a son of John BLAXLAND of Parramatta. She rightly speculated upon the likelihood that this is how SHYING came to work for his father. Indeed, it may well be asked if that is how he came to be on that ship in the first place - had George been on the lookout for a suitable and perhaps oriental artisan to go to N.S.W. and become "recruited" as one of his father's employes?

The Anambers were probably the Anambas Islands, part of the Riau Archipelago, about 250 km east of the coast of Malaysia, on about the same latitude as Kuala Lumpur. So it appears that the 'Laurel' came to Australia via the Dempu and Sunda Straits, and down past Western Australia, en route to Port Dalrymple (on the north Tasmanian coast, not far from Launceston).

November 1819 - [Card Catalogue, Mitchell Library]:

"OPONG, Nov 1819, employed by J. BLAXLAND as a Carpenter (BIGGS, J.T. - Report , Appendix, page 5731, B.T. Box 26)."

10 or 14 June 1820 - Petition made by "John BLAXLAND, John HARRIS and another gentleman whose signature is illegible"[John WATSON, "John SHYING, Oriental Gentleman," Journal of the Parramatta District Historical Society, Volume 6, 199, at page 55 et seq.], on behalf of Mark O'PONG to Governor MACQUARIE for a grant of land in Parramatta.

WATSON transcribed the petition [citing Colonial Secretary's Correspondence, Fiche 3027, 4/1825 A, No 581, pages 2165-6 -I have not yet sighted this original record] as follows:

"That memorialist came to this Colony by the ship Laurel, GREEN, Master; is a native of Canton in China; has been in the Colony for two and one half years, during which time he had been in the service of John BLAXLAND, Esq, as a carpenter, supporting a honest, industrious character.

"That memorialist being anxious to become an agriculturalist of this Colony humbly implores your Excellency to take his case into your favorable consideration and grant him such portion of land for a farm as to your Excellency's wisdom and goodness shall deem meet and for such mark of favor, memorialist as in duty bound will pray."

It appears that this "petition" was made by BLAXLAND, HARRIS and another "on behalf of" our Chinaman, who was recorded here with his second preferred given name Peng or Pong - once again presumed, by its position, to be the family name. I deduce from this that MAI Sai Ying or Peng probably had no literacy in the English language - although I suspect that he may probably have already acquired some basic verbal English language skills before he left Canton. 

12 May 1821 - The above petition was eventually "successful", and notification of a grant, for 30 acres, was published in the Sydney Gazette on 12 May 1821:

"Surveyor General's Office, 28th April 1821.

"The following LIST of NAMES of NEW SETTLERS who are to receive Grants of LAND, and of OLD SETTLERS who are to have additional LANDS located for them in the Year 1821, is published for general Information:-

"... Mark OPONG...

"John OXLEY, Surveyor General."

This list, covering surnames beginning with H through to Y, comprised a total of about 400 names, more-or-less.

3 February 1823 - First marriage of John SHYING to Sarah Jane THOMPSON at St John's, Church of England, Parramatta [Mitchell Library, S.A.G. Reel 55, page 44], entry number 409:

"John SHEYING of the parish of Parramatta and Sarah Jane THOMPSON, of the same parish, were married in this church by banns this Third day of February (1823) By me, Thomas HASSALL, Off'g Min'r.

"The marriage was solemnised between {John (his-X-mark) SHEYING

                                                                {Sarah Jane (her-X-mark) THOMPSON

"in the presence of {Matthew TODD

                              {Alice (her-X-mark) WILLIAMS."

I do not know why John SHYING made his-X-mark in the register here, but made the sign of his three Chinese characters in his second marriage, in the same register, in 1843. Perhaps Rev HASSALL was less welcoming of SHYING's ethnic origins than Rev ROBART was 20 years later?

8 November 1823 - Birth in Parramatta of their first son, John, and his baptism at St John's Church of England [Mitchell Library, S.A.G. Reel 55, page 140]:

"John James SHYING, son of John and Sarah SHYING, Parramatta, was born Nov'r 8th and Christened December 7th 1823. Registered same day by me Tho's HASSALL, Off'ing Min'r."

[Note - pro-forma register, printed, with spaces for insertion of hand-written details, here highlighted in blue.]

Late 1823 or early 1824 - Petition of John SHYING to Governor BRISBANE, transcribed by John WATSON ["John SHYING, Oriental Gentleman, "citing Colonial Secretary's Correspondence, Fiche 3058, 4/1833, No 49, pp 173-6]:

"That your petitioner came to this Colony about six years ago in the 'Laurel' Captain GREEN, and has continued ever since that period, having been usefully employed as a mechanic in the Colony. That about twelve months ago he married a young woman who came free to the Colony, by whom he has one infant son. That your petitioner humbly craves of your Excellency the indulgence of continuing in the Colony, and further humbly solicits permission to erect a small habitation in this Town (Parramatta) to enable him to carry on his business and thereby comfortably provide for his increasing family. Petitioner would further beg leave to request the indulgence of an allotment of ground in Church Street, near where he now lives, for the aforesaid purpose as being most eligible for his business."

14 February 1824 - The Colonial Secretary's reply to the above petition [John WATSON, citing Col. Sec's Correspondence, Reel 6012, page 336]:

"The survey of Parramatta being complete, there exists no objection to your obtaining on lease any vacant allotment you choose."

1823-25 - General Muster of N.S.W. [N.S.W. and Tasmania, Settlers and Convicts, 1787-1859, on Findmypast and Ancestry.com, Ref H.R.O. 10/20, at folios 171 and 172]:

"SHEANG, John, age n.r., came free, vessel Laurel, 1819, ---, Carpenter, Parramatta.

"SHEANG, John, aged 2, born in colony, ---, Son of John SHEANG.

...

"SHEANG, Sarah, age n.r., came free, vessel Morley, 1820, ---, Wife of John SHEANG, Parramatta."

These details have also been abstracted in the book "General Muster List of New South Wales, 1823, 1824, 1825," edited by Carol J. BAXTER, and published by AGBR, Sydney, 1999, at pages 519 and 520. The Muster information for Parramatta was gathered in the Court House there, and for surnames commencing with "S" this was collected on three dates - 12 September 1823, 24 September 1824 and 7 October 1825. It should be noted that on both of the family history web-sites, Ancestry.com and Findmypast.co.uk, the transcriptions of the page images appear to have wrongly interpreted the use of  double commas - which nowadays is used to denote "ditto" - and thereby incorrectly indicating that all three SHEANGs were convicts - which they most definitely were not (although for Sarah, it was evidently a close call).

18 May 1826 - Birth in Parramatta of their second son, George, and his baptism at St John's Church of England [M.L., SAG Reel 55, page 2, entry number 29] on:

"June 11th 1826, born 18 May, George Hugh, son of John and Sarah SHIYING, Parramatta, Shop Keeper, Samuel MARSDEN, Officiating Minister."

10 October 1827 - Letter of Charles COWPER, Clerk of the Corporation, to Rev WILSON, of the Female Orphan Institute, concerning payment of unauthorized expenditure, including the third in a list of seven claims:

"John SHYONG, Sundries, £8 0s 9d."

Another list, recorded in an extract from a meeting of the Committee of Trustees of Clergy and School Lands, dated 4 July 1828, concerning further payments claimed by the Female Orphan School, amounting to a total of £158 13s 5d, including the first of eight claims, for:

"John SHYONG, £42 14s 8d."

7 January 1828 - Birth in Parramatta of their third son, Henry James SHYING, and baptism at St John's (C.of E.), 11 27 January, by Rev John VINCENT, "... son of John and Sarah SHIYONG, Parramatta, Shop Keeper."

1828 Census - Householder's Return, District of Parramatta, No 91:

"John SHYING, aged 32, came free, ship Lawler (sic), 1817 (sic), Parramatta, Shop Keeper, Protestant.

"Sarah Jane SHYING, 26, came free, ship Morley, 1820, wife of above, Parramatta, Protestant.

"John James SHYING, 5, born colony, son of above, Parramatta, Protestant.

"George Hugh SHYING, 2, born colony, son of above, Parramatta, Protestant.

"Henry James SHYING, 9 month, born colony, son of above, Parramatta, Protestant.

"Wm H. BROTHERTON, 28, F.S. (free by service), ship Ocean (3), 1818, (sentence of) 7 years, Clerk to above, Parramatta, Protestant.

"William CLARE, 44, F.S., ship Lord Castlereagh, 1815, 7 years, Servant of above, Parramatta, Protestant.

"Hartley DRURY, 26, F.S., ship Martha, 1817, 7 years, Servant of above, Parramatta, Roman Catholic.

"Owning 5 horses 4 cattle.

"Signed by John SHYING. Witnessed by John BROWN, Constable."

This is the only age for John SHYING that I have been able to find and recorded on his own information. 

10 March 1829 - The Australian, Tuesday:

"Licensed Publicans in Parramatta.

"... John SHYING, The Lion; ..."

27 May 1830 - Birth in Parramatta of their fourth son, Thomas Jones SHYING, and baptism at St John's (C.of E.), 18 April, "... son of John and Sarah SHYING, Parramatta, Publican."

28 June 1830 - Publican's Licenses [NRS 14401 (4-61), Reel 5049, Mitchell Library]:

"John SHYING, Golden Lion, Church Street, Parramatta."

2 September 1830 - The Sydney Gazette:

"SALES BY AUCTION.

"BY MR PRITCHETT.

"At Parramatta, on Friday 8 October 1830, at 11 for 12 o'clock, positively without Reserve (unless disposed of by Private Contract).

"The following valuable PREMISES, situated in the Town of Parramatta, known by the name of the Golden Lion, Church Street, Windsor Road, &c, the property of Mr John SHYING.

"Lot 1 - A beautiful, well-built brick house, measuring 60 feet in front by 28, with a Chinese veranda not to be equaled by any in the colony, containing 7 rooms well fitted up, with a good cellar 25 feet by 12 feet; likewise a good store-room the length of the house; the yard containing a brick house, with kitchen and 3 rooms, likewise a 4 stall stable, and a fine well of water; will be let immediately at £2 per week.

"Lot 2 - A good weatherboard house with 2 rooms, adjoining Lot 1, and good water; let at 3 shillings per week.

"Lot 3 - A good weatherboard house, in Church Street, Windsor Road, containing 6 rooms, with kitchen and good water; let at 14 shillings per week.

"Lot 4 - A good brick house of 4 rooms, with a Smith's forge, in full trade, adjoining Lot 3, and good water; let at 6 shillings per week.

"Lot 5 - A good weatherboard house, containing 3 rooms, opposite Lot 4; let at 3s 6d per week.

"Lot 6 - A beautiful well-built and finished stone house, situated in Fenton Street, Orphan School Road, containing 3 rooms, with granary and a 2 stall stable; let at 2s per week.

"Lot 7 - A weatherboard cottage, beautifully situated, adjoin the Government Domain, containing 4 rooms, a good garden with young trees, and good water, opposite the new wind mill; let at 3s per week.

"Terms of sale - One half of purchase money to be paid down, and the other half by approved bills at 6 months. The purchaser of Lot No 1 may have the license transferred, on paying for the unexpired term, and fixtures at a valuation."

23 November 1830 - The Sydney Gazette, Tuesday:

"TO BE LET OR SOLD, for the term of 3 years, with the license, in the Town of Parramatta, a beautiful well-built Brick House, Sign of the Golden Lion, George Street, Windsor Road, measuring 60n feet in front by 28 feet, with a chinese veranda... (as above)...

"Application to be made to John SHYING on the premises."

18 October 1831 - A Power of Attorney [Number 675, Book D, as cited in documents found in the Mitchell Library, in MSS 5857]:

"John Pong SHYING to Joseph Hickey GROSE and John Foreman STAFF" to act generally in regards to "... all his messuages or dwelling houses, lands, tenements and hereditaments situate and being in the Colony of N.S.W. ... in consideration of the said John Pong SHYING leaving the Colony."

1832 - The New South Wales Calendar and General Post Office Directory (data probably collected in 1831 for publication in early 1832):

"Alphabetical Directory...

"SHYONG, John, Publican, Parramatta."

21 November 1831 - Letter from the Attorney General's Office to The Honorable Alexander McLEAY, Colonial Secretary:

"Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, transmitting to me a letter addressed to you by Sarah SHYONG, requesting that the Title Deeds of certain Town Allotments in Parramatta claimed by her Husband John SHYONG, who is a native of China, and not naturalized, may be executed in her name, and requesting direction of His Excellency the Acting Governor that the same may be returned with my legal Report, whether there is any legal objection to its being done. In reply I have the honor to state, that as the husband of Sarah SHYING cannot receive a grant of land, I see no legal objection to the Grant being made if His Excellency shall be pleased to do so to Trustees, to the use of the Wife, and her children, but as a married woman the Grant cannot be made directly to herself. The Trusts may be for her sole use only, or to her for life with such power to dispose of the property to her children, as shall be arranged before the Grant shall be finally made."

The signature of the writer of this letter is hard to read - John (possibly) KINSELLA?

John SHYING evidently returned to China, and perhaps for 5 to 6 years. Details of his voyage are unknown, but two possible voyages with Canton as their destination are canvassed next.

The reason for John SHYING re-visiting his homeland is unclear. The reason for him not seeking to become naturalized is also unclear. I wonder whether the two may have been connected. Did John have financial interests in his native country? An inheritance, perhaps? Might his becoming a naturalized British Subject have jeopardised any financial interests he may have in China? Or did John not do so because he thought that he may not have been successful in the first place?

5 December 1831 - The ship "Larkins," 700 tons, CAMPBELL, Master, sailed from Sydney, bound for Canton, with a cargo of 6 bales of possum skins and stores [Sydney Monitor, Wednesday 7 December], with one passenger, Mr EDWARDS [Sydney Gazette, Thursday 8 December].

30 January  1832 - The bark "Elizabeth," Captain PHILLIPS, sailed from Hobart Town to Canton, in ballast [The Australian, Friday 2 March].

27 March 1836 - Death of his wife Sarah SHYING.

She was buried at St John's (C.of E.) Cemetery, Parramatta, [Mitchell Library, SAG Reel 55, third batch, page 18, entry 245]:

"Sarah SHYING, abode Parramatta, buried 29th March, aged 34 years, Free Dealer's wife, R. FORREST, Off'g Min'r."

[Photograph taken in December 2018 by the author of this article. 
This image, and those following, have been posted by me on memorials created for them on the www.findagrave.com web-site.]

The gravestone bears the inscription:

"Sacred

"TO THE MEMORY OF

"SARAH SHYING

"WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE

"MARCH 27th 1836.
"AGED 35 YEARS

"Leaving a Husband and four

"Children to deplore her loss of

"a tender Wife and kind Mother"

[Photograph taken in December 2018 by the author of this article.
The graves face towards the east, and are in Section 1, Block C (see illustrations under the Lych Gate at the entrance), about 20 rows in from the entrance on O'Connell Street, and directly uphill from the monument to the "flogging parson," the Reverend Samuel MARSDEN.]

1836 - John SHYING returned to New South wales. Details of his return voyage to Sydney are unknown, but several voyages commencing in Canton are canvassed next.

12 May 1836 - The barque "Macclesfield," Captain WRIGHT, arrived in Sydney from Canton (departed 22 February), with a cargo of tea [Sydney Gazette, Saturday 14 May].

21 May 1836 - The Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston), Saturday, Hobart town Ship News:
"The Lady of the Lake, arrived at Sydney with 3,000 chests of tea, from Canton.
"The Canton, Macclesfield, Orwell, Lord Amherst and Mary Ann were all loading at Canton, for one or other of these colonies."

27 July 1836 - The bark "Orwell," LEWING, Master, arrived in Sydney, from Canton (date not recorded) via Hobart Town (13th July), with a cargo of tea, and one passenger, Mr KEMP [Sydney Gazette, 30 July].

14 November 1836 - The Sydney Herald:

"TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION.

"On Saturday, 17 December, in Church Street, Parramatta.

"All those Capital SIX MERCANTILE RESIDENCES, in the heart of Parramatta, situate between the Bridge and Court House, newly finished, and adapted to any business, and which, in another year or two, will be a property of considerable value, and renting at double the present rents.

"LOT 1 - House and shop let to SHYING the Chinaman, at £40 per annum, all with a separate entrance up the gateway.

"LOT 2 - House and shop let to Mr JOSEPH at £40 per annum.

"LOTs 3 and 4 [ditto] ..."

10 April 1837 - The "Respectful Petition of John SHYING, native of Canton," to His Excellency, Major-General Sir R. BOURKE, K.C.B., Governor of the colony BOURKE [Colonial Secretary's Correspondence Index, Item 2/7970, Reel 1182, State Records, Kingswood Reading Room]:
"Your petitioner has been a Colonist now upwards of Twenty Years during a portion of which period he was under the administration of the late Governor MACQUARIE, which Governor was pleased to confer an order on Petitioner in 1821 in March on the date of the 31st of that month, a Grant of Land of Thirty acres (30) as per (hard to decipher word - looking like grant) from Governor MACQUARIE's Order book.
"That your Petitioner relied upon one Mr O'BRIEN, a Surveyor, surveying and marking off the same in favor of Petitioner, which your Petitioner cannot find he has done, or of Petitioner's name appearing on the face of any chart, only on the records of the order Book as already alluded to by Petitioner, and which was the cause of your respectful Petitioner resting so easy.
"And for the past five years he, petitioner, has been in his native country of 'China' and left his children, natives of the Colony, under two Trustees, Messrs GROSE of Sydney, Merchant, and John FOREMAN STAFF of Parramatta, with whom Petitioner forgot to leave a memorandum.
"As Your Excellency's Petitioner has brought Capital with him from China, prays upon your Excellency to be pleased to confirm the said order, having four children, and under the supplication of my being deceived by Mr O'BRIEN.
"Your Petitioner, upon Your Excellency's being pleased to grant the boon craved, Petitioner will improve thereon for the benefit of his family.
"And Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
"John SHYING, Church Street, Parramatta."

4 May 1837 - Annotation on the above letter, as 37/96:
".. Surveyor-General is requested to ... report
"... for Col Sec'y, T.B.H."

15 June 1837 - John SHYING's letter to S.A. PERRY, Esq, the Surveyor-General [Item 2/7970, Reel 1182, State Records, Kingswood Reading Room]:
"Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of yesterday respecting thirty acres of land.
"In reply, the late Mr OXLEY told me it would be selected at Brush Farm.
"With regard to my name in reference to the Office Book, you will find my name Mark O Pong. This is my country way, but after my marriage my name is John SHYING, and my children are christened in that name.
"I hope you will do me the honor of a reply to this, and  You will much serve - Sir - Your very humble and obedient servant,
"John SHYING."

30 June 1837 - The report by the Surveyor-General to the Colonial Secretary [Item 2/7970, Reel 1182, State Records, Kingswood Reading Room]:
"There is no record of an order in favor of 'John SHYING' but there is one by Gov'r MACQUARIE in favor of 'Mark O PONG' for 30 acres dated 31st March 1821 in which name it appears by the accompanying letter addressed to me by SHYING; he received the order. How far therefore it may be considered as affected by the orders of October 1826 and 1827 will be for the decision of His excellency the Governor. 
"S.A. PERRY."

12 July 1837 - Final annotation on the above letter exchanges on the Colonial Secretary's file:
"There is nothing apparently in this case to except it from the operation of the regulations of October 1826 and 1827.
"SHYING to be informed of the meaning and effect of the regulation of October 1826 and 1827, and of my inability to relieve him from their operation. (Initials), July 9."

8 July 1837 - Publican's Licenses [NRS 14401 (4-68), Reel 5053, Mitchell Library]:

"John SHYING, The Lamb Inn, Pennant Street, Parramatta."

4 July 1838 - Sydney Monitor, Wednesday:

"PARRAMATTA - POLICE OFFICE.

"John SHYING, late a publican, appeared to answer an information laid against him for a breach of the Licensing Act, when Dr FORSTER rose, and was going to leave the Court, the Police Magistrate stated, that if he went away, the case must be dismissed, as it was one on which a single magistrate could not adjudicate, that it Dr FORSTER would say when he would return, he Mr P would wait for him. The Court was kept open for half an hour, when no Second Magistrate appearing, the case was dismissed."

20 May 1839 - Death of John SHYING's mother-in-law, Sarah O'NEIL (widow of Daniel O'NEIL, and before him of James THOMPSON, maiden surname McLEAN), at the Benevolent Asylum, aged 77 years; she was buried at St Lawrence Church, Sydney, 21 May.

25 November 1840 - The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser, Wednesday:

"Case No 827 - Henry HARVEY, of Parramatta.

"Thirty seven perches, county of Cumberland, parish of the Field of Mars, Town of Parramatta, allotment No 19 on the Windsor Road in Section No 26; bounded on the west by John WARD's allotment, north 134 links; on the east by the Windsor Road, south ten degrees, east 134 links; and on the south by John SHYING's allotment (formerly FLINTOFF's), west 163 links.

"This allotment was leased by Sir Thomas BRISBANE for 21 years from 30 June 1823 to Thomas POTTER, deceased, whose widow, it is alleged, sold it to Joseph Hickey GROSS, who sold it to John SHYONG, the Chinaman, who sold it to Complainant. The deed is required on proposing to pay a fine equal to 21 years quit rent."

1841 - Census of N.S.W. Parramatta [State Records of N.S.W., Reel 2222, Return No 213]:

John SHYING, Landed Proprietor, aged 45 but not yet 60 years, and married; with a married woman aged 21 but not yet 45 years, both recorded, as I see it, as Jews; in a wooden house, finished and inhabited.

There appear to be no indications of the four sons living with them.

26 December 1841 - Arrival in Sydney of John's future second wife, Bridget GILLOOLY, on the ship 'Lady Clarke,' for the bounty fare of £19, aged 28, a native of Roscommon, Ireland, Servant.

19 April 1842 - Burial of Daniel O'NEIL, step-father of John SHYING's late first wife Sarah, in St Patrick's R.C. Cemetery, North Parramatta, by N.J. COFFEY, "... Abode Parramatta, Aged 66 years, Servant."

John's future second wife (see next below) would shortly after be buried in the same grave.

10 October 1842 - Second marriage of John SHYING at St John's Church of England, Parramatta [Mitchell Library, SAG Reel 56, page 58, entry number 238]:

"John SHYING of this Parish, Widower, and Bridget GILLORLEY, of this Parish, Widow, were married in this church by Banns with consent of  (blank) this tenth day of October in the year 1842

"By me, H.H. ROBART

"This marriage was       {(the three Chinese character signature of) Mai Sai YING)

"solemnised between   {the-X-mark of Bridget GILLORLEY

"in the presence of {James TURNER

                              {J. T. STAFF."

Some researchers have suggested that Bridget may not have been a widow, and that she had emigrated as an unmarried woman named GILLOOLY, as indicated in the 1841  Immigration indent.

29 January 1843 - Death of his second wife Bridget [Mitchell Library, Reel SAG 11, folio page 320, image number 933, entry number 107]:

"Bridget San (?) CHIN, abode Parramatta, buried St Patrick's R.C., Parramatta, 30 January 1843, aged 33 years, (ship's name) Free, by Rev N.J. COFFEY."

The spelling of the name in the Register is of some interest. The middle name did look like San, but there was a stray line in the image which crossed over the 3rd letter, which may have been an "h"? But the "reversion" to a format resembling three Chinese characters but in English translation is puzzling - was this an attempt by the Catholic Rev COFFEY to try his hand at Anglicizing what he was hearing? If so, then it probably indicates that John SHYING did bury her, even though he did not bury her with his first wife. Although that may well be down to their different religious affiliations anyway.

She was buried in the grave of Daniel O'NEIL, Step-father of John SHYING's first wife Sarah.

[The above three photographs taken in December 2018 by the author of this article. 
The grave is not far (perhaps about 30 metres) from the entrance gate on the corner of Church Street and Pennant Hills Road; it faces east-north-east, towards Pennant Hills Road. 
The road in the background of the third photo is the extension of Church Street north of the Pennant Hills Road intersection.]

Some of the dates and ages on this stone have been mis-read by other researchers. The burial register confirms the year of Bridget's burial as 1843, but the age, which the register records as 33 years, appears on the stone as 35. The numeral 3 has a long horizontal stroke at the top, to the left of the diagonal stroke beneath it; the numeral 5 has a much shorter top stroke to the right of the diagonal stroke beneath it.

25 February 1843 - Town Grant, Town of Parramatta, Series 53, Page 56 [digital index to Lands Office records, accessed at State Records, Kingswood]:

Concerning 37 perches of land on the Windsor Road, being Allotment 19 of Section 20, Parish of the Field of Mars, County of Cumberland:

"... being the allotment leased to William Potter by His Excellency Sir Thomas BRISBANE on 30 June 1823, and now granted in consideration of the sum of £19 8 shillings and 6d sterling having been duly paid by John Pong SHYHONG to the Colonial Treasurer of our said territory before these presents are issue, being a fine equal to payment of 21 years Quit-rent on the said allotment in terms of the regulation of 25th August 1834 under the recommendation of the Commissioner of Claims No 827, but he being an Alien the deed is now prepared at his request in favour of his four sons, the said John SHYHONG the younger, George SHYHONG, Henry SHYHONG and Thomas SHYHONG, under the advice of the Attorney General."

16 March 1844 - The Parramatta Chronicle, Saturday:
"SALE OF TOWN PROPERTY. - On Wednesday last the premises occupied by Mr STOW, situate in Church Street, and known as the Peacock Inn, the property of Mr SHIYING, was brought to hammer by Mr PHILLIPS, and knocked down to Mr GOODING for £585. The weatherboard house in which Mr SHYING resides was also put up for sale, but in consequence of Mr Nicholas CAVILLION stating at the sale that he had a disputed claim upon the premises, pending in the Court of Claims, and having previously cautioned intending purchasers by public advertisement, a bid could not be obtained for the property."

20 April 1844 - A tripartite Indented Deed, Number 845, Book 6, made between Henry HARVEY of Parramatta, Landholder, as the first part; John SHYONG the Elder and John SHYONG the Younger of Parramatta, Dealers, of the second part; and John STOW of Parramatta, Licensed Victualler, of the third part; concerning the sale of the following property to John STOW [a photocopy of the original deed, with a typed transcript, in the boxed MSS 5857, Mitchell Library]:
"...One rood and six perches situated in the Town of Parramatta, Parish of the Field of Mars, County Cumberland, Allotment 17 on the west side of the Windsor Road, in Section 20, and bounded on the south by Fennell Street..."
"...
"Signed sealed and delivered                                         (MAI Sai Ying in chinese characters) [S.S].
"in the presence of                                                          Henry HARVEY [S.S.]
"(indecipherable signature, poss) Chas H. SYMS.         John SHYONG [S.S.]
"...
"Received of and from the within-named John STOW the sum of five hundred and ninety pounds sterling, being the full amount of consideration money within-mentioned to be paid by him to me,
"Witnessed                                    MAI Sai Ying (in chinese characters)
"(ditto)                                          J. STOW (signature)."

John SHYONG Junior had actually not yet come of age.

22 April 1844 - Deed of sale of 1 rood 6 perches, allotment 17, on the west side of the Windsor Road, Parramatta, to John STOW, for 590 pounds [transcribed by Winsome DOYLE, her notes, MSS 5857, Mitchell Library]:
"The land had been granted by Governor GIPPS to Henry HARVEY on 30 March 1840, nominally, on behalf of John SHYONG, who being an Alien, a native of the Chinese Empire, was incapable of holding lands in British territories..."

This looks very much like the previous deed dated 20 April, for the same Allotment.

20 October 1844 - John SHYING evidently made a will.

The will has not been sighted, and it does appear that it was NOT the subject of a probate grant in N.S.W. (at least under that surname, or variations of it) - but it is mentioned in a later Indented Deed, and in which we find the following statement:

"Whereas the last will and testament of John SHYONG the Elder, late of Parramatta aforesaid, dated the 20th day of October 1844, the said John SHYONG the Elder gave and devised the lands, hereditaments and premises hereinafter described are hereby released and conveyed, the same being described in the said will as All that Messuage or Dwelling House and premises situate in Church Street in Parramatta aforesaid, and granted to Joseph Hickey GROSE Esquire of Sydney in the colony aforesaid, until his Trustees thereinafter named in Trust to receive the rents and profits until his son Thomas SHYONG (one of the said parties hereunto of the second part) should attain the age of 21 years, and the rents so to be received to divide in manner therein mentioned, and when and so soon as his said son Thomas should attain the age of 21 years, he thereby ordered and directed his said Trustees to sell and dispose of the said Messuage or dwelling house and premises either by Public Auction or private contract, and he thereby appointed the said James URQUHART, John MORRIS (since deceased) and his son the said John SHYONG Trustees and Executors of the his said will."

This 1854 Deed named two witnesses, John Morton GOULD of Parramatta, Solicitor, and his Clerk F.C. QUAIFE, who both appear to have signed their names; and it listed the names of five of the first and second parties to the deed (all written in the one hand), evidently not signatures, but with the annotation of Sign and Seal against them, as follows:

"James URQUHART (S.S.)

"John SHYONG (S.S.)

"John SHYONG (S.S)

"Henry SHYONG (S.S.)

"Thomas SHYONG (S.S.)"

The fact that John SHYONG is recorded as having made two separate Signs and Seals here does appear to ask the question - were these two different John SHYONGs? Or, in other words, might this constitute evidence that John SHYONG the Elder may have still been living in 1854? The actual signatures may only have been made on original documents that were not archived (those that went to the grantee as evidence of holding title) and may have not survived. The absence of George SHYING from the signatories to this deed is of interest - he appears to have been in California from the end of 1849 until early-mid 1854.

8 November 1844 - John SHYING's eldest son, John James SHYING (the younger), came of age.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

JOHN SHYING'S FOUR SONS BY SARAH THOMPSON.

1. John James SHYING; born at Parramatta, 1823; Foreman to the late Mr Richard HANSLOW (he died in 1861), Undertaker, of George Street South; in May 1865, after having carried on the Undertaking business for HANSLOW's widow, he commenced in business with his brother George, as Undertakers, at 709 George Street South, opposite Christ Church [The Empire, 1 May]; of Kent Street, Sydney, 1848-49 Electoral Register for Brisbane Ward; Undertaker, South Head Road, 1864 [Sand's Directory]; of 22 Abercrombie Street, 1867-70; of Abercrombie Place, 1871; of 3 Adelaide Terrace, Cooper Street, Abercrombie Place, 1873; of 119 Little Abercrombie Street, 1879; of 26 Abercrombie Street, 1883; he died on 19 November 1885, aged 62 years, and was buried on 21 November, at Rookwood Necropolis, Anglican, Section CC, Plot 440.

[Photograph taken in December 2018 by the author of this article.]

John SHYING, of Balmain, was married firstly, at St Mary's (R.C.), Sydney, on 21 November 1843, to Mary RYAN, also of Balmain, and a Communicant Catholic; she died at Margaret Place, Sydney, on 5 February 1854, was buried at St James's (C.of E.), Sydney, 7 February, aged 25 years; they had issue:
     a. John Joseph SHYING, born on 22 December 1844; died on 21 August 1900; as the "... only son of Mr John SHYING of Sydney," he was married by the Rev Dr FULLARTON in Sydney, 8 April 1867, to Sarah Annie DUNN, "... second daughter of Mr John DUNN, late of Waterloo, Sydney" [S.M.H., Tuesday 16 April]; they had issue.
     b. Sarah Louise SHYING, born on 19 September 1846, and baptised on 4 October at St James's (R.C.), Sydney; she was buried at St James's (R.C.), Sydney, 20 March 1853, late of Margaret Street, aged 6 and a half years.
     c. Mary Ann SHYING, born at York Street, on 30 August 1850, and baptised at St James's (R.C.), Sydney.
John James SHYING, Widower, a Communicant Presbyterian, was married secondly, by Special license, at St Andrew's (C.of E.), Sydney, 28 December 1854, to Eliza Jane HALL; she died on 8 May 1897, aged 58 years, and was buried with him at Rookwood.

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2. George Hugh SHYING, born at Parramatta, 18 May 1826; Undertaker; went to the US on the ship "Duke of Roxburgh," departing Sydney 12 October 1849, bound for San Francisco [Shipping Gazette, Saturday 13 April]; he returned to Sydney on the ship "John Williams" from Upalu (Samoa), on 23 May 1854, with Mrs SHYING and two children [N.S.W. Immigration Records, Ancestry.com]; probably the Butcher, of Sussex Street, Sydney, June 1856, when the subject of Insolvency Proceedings [Maitland Mercury, Tuesday 19 June]; Undertaker, 778 George Street, 1865 [Sand's Directory]; of 16/18 Botany Road, 1868-69 [Sand's]; of 120 South Head Road, 1870-76; Undertaker, of Ross Street, Glebe, 1879; of Short Street, Glebe, 1883; he died on 6 June 1893, at his residence, 8 George Street West, and was buried at Rookwood Necropolis on 8 June, late of 8 George Street West - Funeral Notices were inserted in the S.M.H. on 7 June by his wife Mrs SHYING, his children George, John and Martie SHYING, and his brother Thomas J. SHYING.

[There is no gravestone on his grave, in Old Anglican, Section R, Plot 1321.]

George was married at St Mary's (R.C.), Sydney, by Rev Robert McCORMACK, C.C., on 12 October 1846, to Mary SHEEN, of Sydney (witnesses were Samuel PROSSER and Margaret SHEEN).

Family trees on Ancestry.com record that a Mary SHEEN was born in Ireland in 1829, the daughter of David SHEAHAN (or SHEEN) and Julia MAHER (this was the maiden surname attributed to Mary in the baptismal entry for her son Joseph SHYING in 1847), and that is indicated in the on-line index to N.S.W. Statutory death Registers (where her parents are recorded as David and Julia). The pedigrees also record that she had a sister named Margaret SHEEN (born in 1832, also Ireland), who married Jacob GOODRIDGE in Sydney in 1850. Indeed, that marriage took place at St Mary's (R.C.), Sydney, on 27 May 1850, and the second witness to that marriage was Mary SHYING (George's wife). It follows that that was inevitably her sister Margaret who had witnessed Mary's own marriage in 1846.

Mary went to join her husband in America, sailing from Sydney on 20 May 1851, on the American Brig "Fortunio," bound for  Honolulu, aged 20, with her son Joseph SHYING, aged 4, both recorded as British subjects; she died at the residence of her sister, Mrs J. GOODBRIDGE, Pyrmont, on 17 June 1882, "... the beloved wife of Mr George SHYING Senior, aged 52 years" [Freeman's Journal (Sydney), Saturday 24 June]; they had issue:

     a. Joseph SHYING, born Pitt Street, Sydney, 15 March 1847, and baptized at St James's R.C. Sydney, 28 March, by Rev Mr FYANS (mother recorded as Mary MAHER?); age 4, when he sailed to America with his mother, May 1851 (see above); Carpenter, of George Street, Sydney; Joseph died at his residence, 719 George Street South, on 21 July 1876, ".. aged 29 years, leaving a wife and two children to mourn their loss, (the) eldest son of George and Mary SHYING of Oxford Street" [S.M.H., Monday 24 July]; he was married at St Andrew's (C.of E.), Sydney, 26 May 1870, to Rebecca Jane SOLOMON, aged 17, of Ultimo; she died at her sister's residence in Pyrmont, on 28 May 1884, aged 31 years, "... widow of late Joseph SHYING, Undertaker" [In Memoriam, S.M.H., 28 May 1885]; with issue.
     b. Sarah SHYING, born at Union Street, Sydney, 2 February 1849, and baptized at St James's (R.C.), Sydney, 18 March, by Rev John McCLENNAN (mother Mary SHEEN). Query whether she died an infant, which would explain why she did not go to America in 1851?

     c. Julia Martha SHYING, born in San Francisco (so recorded in her marriage registration), about 1852-53; she died in Sydney on 6 December 1885; she was married at St Peter's (C.of E.), Woolloomooloo, 16 November 1884, of full age, Spinster, of Sydney (parents named in full), to Gavin HOUSTON, of full age, a Widower, of Sydney, Grocer (born in Maitland, parents Gavin and Agnes HOUSTON, the father deceased).
     d. Mary Eliza SHYING, born about 1854; she was married at St Andrew's (C.of E.) Cathedral, on 9 June 1875, to John Charles BURTON, of Paddington, Boot-maker.

     e. George R. SHYING, born at 185 Sussex Street, Sydney, in May 1856 [Empire, Thursday 8 May]; died in 1893; probably George Robert SHYING, who married in Sydney, 1878 [#196], Alice M. SAMUELS; with issue.

     f. James Edwin SHYING, born 1858; died 14 November 1874, aged 16 years, late of Sydney [Empire, 16 November].

     g. Letitia E. SHYING, born 1861; died on 3 August 1874, aged 13, late of Oxford Street [S.M.H., 5 August].

     h. Emily E. SHYING, born 1863; died 1864.

     j. William SHYING, born 1865; died 1948.

     k. Alice M. SHYING, born 1866; died at Wallsend, 1924 [#704]; married at East Maitland, 1889 [#5464], Arthur W. STUART or STEWART.

     l. Margaret SHYING, born 1870; she died at Balmain North, 1901 [#4460], aged 31 years, and was buried at Rookwood [R.C. Mortuary 1, Section K, Plot 1876]:

She was married at Sydney, 1888 [#1435], to Robert H. BUTCHER.

     m. John R. SHYING, born 1873.

George appears to have married secondly, in Sydney, 1884 [#251], to Ellen CARNEY (or CORNEY), and in his marriage registration he recorded his mother as Sarah O'NEIL; Ellen survived him as sole executor; and by her had further issue:

     n. still born child, buried at Rookwood, 7 February 1885 [Anglican, Section R, Plot 1321]
     o. Martin SHYING, born Sydney, 1886 [#2074].

     p. Mary SHYING, born Sydney, 1889 [#674]; she died in 1889, and was buried in her father's plot at Rookwood (Anglican, Section R, Plot 1321]..

     q. Kate SHING, born at 8 George Street, Sydney, 27 May 1890 [#1774], and baptised at St Benedict's (R.C.), 8 June, by Rev Francis TIMONEY.

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3. Henry James SHYING, born at Parramatta, 7 January 1828; Cabinet Maker, 477 Pitt Street, Sydney, 1863-1879 [Sand's Dircctories]; he died at his residence, 28 High Holborn Street, Surry Hills, on 9 December 1891, "... after a long and painful illness, in his 68th year, leaving a wife and seven children to mourn their loss" [Australian Star, Monday 21 December], and was buried on 10 December at St John's Cemetery, Parramatta, next to his mother.

[Photograph taken in December 2018 by the author of this article.]

Henry was married at St James's (C.of E.), Sydney, by Rev Richard HOWELL, on 8 March 1853, to Sarah McDONALD, of the Parish of St Philip's, Spinster, with the permission of Jane McDONALD, witnesses being John SHYING of St Philip's parish and Ann McDONALD of St Lawrence parish; Sarah was buried at Rookwood on 16 September 1907; they had issue:
     a. George Edward SHYING, born 13 February 1854, and was baptised at St Lawrence (C.of E.),  Sydney, 9 April; he was buried at St Mary's (R.C.), Sydney, 2 April 1857, aged 3 years.
     b. Henry J. SHYING, born 1859; died 1897; probably married at Newtown, 1884 [#2718], Blanche E. BRADFORD (unless he was instead the cousin?).
     c. Thomas McDonald SHYING, born 1861; died on 28 August 1871, aged 10 years, late of Sydney.
     d. John L. SHYING, born 1863; died 1935; probably married at Woollahra, 1887 [#3111], Minnie C. IRVING.
     e. Sarah L. SHYING, born 1865.
     f. Blanche A.M. SHYING, born 1868.
     g. Alice A. SHYING, born 1870.

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4. Thomas Jones SHYING, born at Parramatta, 24 March 1830; of 9 Goulburn Street, Sydney, Butcher, 1866 [Sand's Directory]; of St John's Road, Butcher, 1871 [Sand's]; of Crown Street, Pyrmont, Butcher, 1873 [Sand's]; of 684 Elizabeth Street, Carcass Butcher, 1876 [Sand's]; of Parramatta Road, Glebe, Butcher, 1879 [Sand's]; of 400 Harris Street, Butcher, 1883 [Sand's]; he died on 1 August 1894, aged 64 - In Memoriam Notices, published in the Evening News, 1 August 1895, were inserted by his second wife Elizabeth SHYING and niece E. KENNAGH; his daughter and son-in-law Annie and L. MILHAM; and his sister-in-law and nephew Ellen and J.C. KENNAGH; he was buried at Rookwood [Anglican, Section CCC, Plot 380].

[Photograph taken in December 2018 by the author of this article.]

Thomas SHYING, a Communicant Presbyterian, was married at St Andrew's, Parramatta, by Rev James COUTTS, on 23 June 1851, to Sarah FOSTER, Spinster, of Parramatta; she died at North Willoughby, on 1 May 1893, aged 62 years, and was buried at Rookwood [Anglican, Section CCC, Plots 85, 86] (no gravestone); they had issue:
     a. Henry John SHYING, born 2 August 1852 [Volume 38A, number 1277]; died on 11 May 1854, aged 2 years, and was buried with his grandmother at St John's Cemetery, Parramatta.
     b. George SHYING, born 1854 [Volume 40, number 280]; as the "... eldest son of Mr Thomas SHYING" he was married at Short Street, Forest Lodge, on 27 March 1875, to Catherine FORD, "... only daughter of Mr Henry FORD" [Sydney Mail, Saturday 15 May].
     c. Henry John SHYING (II), born 15 May 1854.
     d. Annie Eliza SHYING, born 25 February 1856, and baptised at St John's, Parramatta, 23 March; she died at 121 George Street, Camperdown, October 1899, aged 43 years, and was buried on 19 October at Rookwood [Anglican, Section EE, Plot 761]; she was married in Sydney, 1876 [#1167], to Levy MILHAM; he was buried with his wife on 10 February 1936, aged 80 years.
     e. Albert Thomas SHYING, born 15 January 1858, and was baptised at St John's, Parramatta, 7 February; he died on 26 January 1894, aged 36, and was buried at Rookwood [Anglican, Section CCC, Plots 85, 86], with his mother (no gravestone).
     f. Emily Seline SHYING, born 9 January 1860, and baptised at St John's, Parramatta, 19 February; she was married at st Stephen's (C.of E.), Newtown, on 8 November 1881 to Thomas Henry Robert MARSHALL, a Drayman from Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Thomas evidently married secondly, Elizabeth KENNAGH, who survived him.

________________________________________________________________

JOHN SHEEN alias SHIN.

13 February 1841 - Margaret McGOVERN, aged 22, arrived in Sydney on the ship "Jane Gifford" with her sisters Alice (25) and Catherine (20), all from Tipperary, and daughters of Norah McGOVERN, Widow, father deceased.

30 April 1846 - Marriage by Rev John Dunmore LANG, at Scot's Church, Sydney [Archives Office, Marriage Register, 5-4113, R.G. Volume 73, 2, No 1081], of:

"... John SHIN, a native of Chinese India, of Twofold Bay, aged 36, bachelor, and Margaret McGOVERN. of Sydney, Spinster, aged 21..."

Neither party signed the declaration of Communicant Membership of the church, and the first witness was J. BRADY (second witness signature illegible - possibly L. NIMO?).

John Dunmore LANG was under an obligation to ensure that when he married two people, they were both clear to do so. If John SHIN was the same man as John SHYING, then LANG should rightfully have established whether John was previously married - that he records him as a bachelor suggests he either did not know, or ask, or even care? That both of John SHYING's wives were already deceased meant, of course, that there would be do impediment - barring any unlikely breach of consanguinity limitations under Canon Law. Perhaps the more interesting reference LANG makes is to John SHIN's place of nativity - could he have perceived that John was not 100% Chinese? Or might this have been a "before-his-time" allusion to what we now refer to as Indo-China?

2 February 1847 - Birth in Sydney of John and Margaret's first daughter Margaret Mary SHEEN - she was not baptized until 14 November 1872, then at Sofala, and about 6 months after her marriage.

12 August 1850 - Birth at Concord of a second daughter Sarah SHEEN [Pre-Registration Church Records, Volume 145, Number 1582 - Microfilm Reel 011 (S.A.G. Library), Number 1635; and her baptism at St Patrick's R.C. Church, Parramatta:

"Baptised 22 September 1850; born 12 August; Sarah, daughter of John SHEEN and Margaret McGOVERN, of Concord; Sponsor Margaret DICKEN (? or DICKSON); Michael BRENNAN Off'g Min'r."

18 July 1853 - Baptism in N.S.W. of Eliza Ann SHEEHAN, daughter of John SHEEHAN and Margaret McGOVERN.

24 July 1856 - Birth at Chippendale of a son John SHEEN [Registered Number 1938].

1864 - Sand's Directory:
"John SHEEN,Gardener, Holt Street."

24 December 1867 - Marriage at Elizabeth Street Presbyterian Church, Sydney, of his elder daughter Sarah SHEEN to John MOY MOW. He was a native of China - and was naturalized in N.S.W., 16 August 1872 [State Records, Register 3, No 129].

11 May 1872 - Marriage at Sofala of his daughter Margaret Mary SHEEN to Ah CHONG alias Joseph LAW, a native of China.

13 December 1875 - Death of Margaret SHEEN [Statutory Registrations of Births, Deaths and Marriages - pro-forma printed, with handwritten entries in Italics]:

"Date and place of death - December 13th 1875; 4 Little Essex Street.

"Name and Occupation - Margaret SHEEN.

"Sex and age - Female; aged 52 years.

"Cause of Death, Duration of last illness; medical attendant; when he last saw deceased - Choleric Diarrhoea, Debility from Chronic Rheumatism; three weeks; Andrew HOWISON (? my best guess); 6th December.

"Name and occupation of father. Name and maiden surname of mother -  --- McGOVERN.

"Informant - John SHEEN; Son, 4 Little Essex Street.

"Particulars of Registration - E.L. MARCH, 13 December 1875, Sydney.

"When and where buried; name of Undertaker - 15th December 1875; Roman Catholic, Necropolis; J. and G. SHYING and Co.

"Name and religion of Minister and names of witnesses -   ---   ---  ; Henry MEARNS (? my best guess), George SHYING.

"Where born and how long in Australasian Colonies or States - Tipperary, Ireland; Thirty years in N.S.W.

"Place of marriage, age, and to whom - At Scots Church, Sydney, by the Rev Dr LANG; aged 21 years; John SHEEN.

"Children of marriage - Margaret, 29; Eliza, 25; Sarah, 27; John, 19; "alive."

14 December 1875 - Margaret SHEEN was buried at Rookwood Necropolis, R.C. Mortuary 1, Section 5, Plot 252, aged 52 years (on-line index to Roman Catholic Burials).

[Photograph taken in December 2018 by the author of this article. The grave faces south-south-west over Necropolis Drive into the Old Methodist Section, on the western edge of the first (and most eastern) block of graves in Section 5.]

The gravestone on the plot records the following (image posted on www.findagrave.com):

"In Memory of

"MARGARET SHEEN

"WHO DIED 13 DECEMBER 1875

"AGED 49 YEARS

"NATIVE OF TIPPERARY, IRELAND."

22 December 1875 - Evening News (Sydney), Wednesday, Death Notice:

"December 13, at the residence of her son-in-law, John MOY MOW, No 4, Little Essex-street, Lower George-street, Margaret SHEEHAN, wife of John SHEEHAN of Sofala, aged 47 years."

[Photograph taken in December 2018 by the author of this article.
The front of the Chapel of St Michael Archangel is visible in the top left corner.]

 

1878 - Marriage at Waterloo of his only surviving son, John SHEIN, to Ellen LEWIS [Registered Number 1923].

18 June 1880 - Death of John SHEEN [Statutory Registrations of Births, Deaths and Marriages]:

"Date and place of death - 18th June 1880; 17 Harrington Street.

"Name and Occupation - John SHEEN; Gardiner.

"Sex and age - Male; aged 91 years.

"Cause of death; duration of last illness; medical attendant; when he last saw deceased - Apoplexy; 6 days; Dr WRIGHT; same day.

"Name and occupation of father. Name and maiden surname of mother -    ---  ---  ---.

"Informant - John SHEEN; Son, 66 Beaumont St, Pyrmont.

"Particulars of Registration - E.L. MARCH, 19th June 1880, Sydney.

"When and where buried; name of Undertaker - 20th June 1880; R. C. Cemetery, Necropolis; J. and G. SHYING & Co.

"Name and religion of Minister and names of witnesses -  ---   ---  ; William SLAYFORD, John HANSLOW.

"Where born and how long in Australasian Colonies or States - China; 61 years in the Colony.

"Place of marriage, age, and to whom - Dr LANG, Clk; ---; Margaret McGOVERN.

"Children of marriage - Eliza, 27; Sarah, 29; Margaret, 30; John, 24; boy deceased.

This is the only age I have yet found for John SHEEN, but it was clearly not recorded here by him. The birthplace and time in the Colony are uncannily similar to information recorded earlier for John SHYING. Their ages do differ, by 5 years or so, but I have only been able to find one  age given by John SHYING himself (in 1828) Census, and one for John SHEEN (but that was recorded after his death on the information of his son). I have become used to seeing some degree of variation in the ages of individuals recorded on their own information and over their lifetime. So, one verified record of age is a very small sample - too small to be making a final call as to its accuracy, in my view.

19 June 1880 - Evening News (Sydney), Saturday, Funeral Notices:

"The Friends of Mr John MOY MOY are respectfully requested to attend the Funeral of his deceased FATHER-IN-LAW, John SHEON; to move from his residence, 17 Harrington-street, at 1.15 p.m. sharp, TOMMOROW (Sunday) AFTERNOON. SHYING, Undertaker."

"The Friends of Mr Ah CHONG are respectfully requested to attend the Funeral of his deceased FATHER-IN-LAW John SHEON; to move from 17, Harrington-street, at 1.15 p.m. sharp, TOMORROW (Sunday) AFTERNOON. SHYING, Undertaker."

"The friends of Mr JOHN SHEEN are respectfully invited to attend his funeral; to move from his late residence, No 17, Harrington-street, TO-MORROW (Sunday) AFTERNOON, at a quarter past 1 o'clock, for the Necropolis. J. and G. SHYING and Co, 747, George-street, and 118, Oxford-street."

20 June 1880 - John SHEEN was buried at Rookwood Necropolis, R.C. Mortuary 1, Section 5, Plot 252, aged 91 years (on-line index to Roman Catholic Burials).

[Photograph taken in December 2018 by the author of this article.]

The gravestone on the plot records the following (images posted on www.findagrave.com):

"Also Of

"JOHN SHEEN

"WHO DIED 19 JUNE 1880.

"AGED 92 YEARS

"BELOVED HUSBAND OF

"THE ABOVE AND NATIVE

"OF CHINA."

"May their souls rest

"in peace."

----------------------------------------------------

I am at a loss as to how a 91 year-old Chinaman, who had been living in New South Wales for 61 years, could have been buried without the hint of recognition of these details in the Sydney press - he had to have acquired, by then, a celebrity status in the wider Chinese community. If he was John SHYING by another name, then the Undertakers who arranged his funeral (who were SHYING's sons John and George), could hardly have failed to notice who they were burying, and that it was their father. But, still not a peep from them, or the press. However, I find it also very odd that two Chinamen arrived in Sydney in the same year, 1818, but only one has left a trail in the archival records. So, the case of a double identity is probably, as they say in Scottish Courts, "not proven."

 

Indeed, there is an interesting report in the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River Advertiser, of Thursday 12 June 1862, which illustrates one of these points:

"FUNERAL OF THE OLDEST CHINESE COLONIST.

"Yesterday afternoon, a funeral took place in Sydney of a man of the name of Mum Shou Pua, a native of China, who was not only considered the oldest member of the Chinese race, having been 72 years of age, but was also the oldest Chinese resident here, having arrived in Sydney 42 years ago..."

Notwithstanding that in June 1862, John SHIN/SHEEN was then aged about 74, and had been living in N.S.W. for 43 years (if both his age at death and years in Colony details were recorded correctly in his death registration).

A narrow win in both counts - but not a peep out of the man himself, or his family! Perhaps they did not read the Maitland Mercury.

_________________________________________________________________________

JOHN SHEEN'S CHILDREN BY MARGARET McGOVERN.

From details of issue in John and Margaret's death registrations:

[In 1875 - Margaret, 29; Eliza, 25; Sarah, 27; John, 19; "alive."]

[In 1880 - Eliza, 27; Sarah, 29; Margaret, 30; John, 24; boy deceased.]
 

1. Margaret Mary SHEEN, born in Sydney, 2 February 1847, but was not baptized until six months after her marriage; she died on 7 October 1909, and was buried at Rookwood, Old Catholic, Section M, Plot 834:

She was married (with surname mis-recorded as GIHEEN) in Sofala on 11 May 1872 to Ah CHONG alias Joseph LAW; as Ah CHONG, a native of Hong Kong, he arrived in Sydney "... by the ship Albion in 1858, and commenced business as a Chinese merchant. Later he disposed of his business and removed to the goldfields of Lambing Flat and Turon, where he remained for some twelve years, then returning to Sydney, where he has since resided. During the many years he acted as Government Interpreter (in the Police and District Courts), he gave every satisfaction, and on no occasion was his rendering challenged. The deceased leaves six sons, six daughters and nineteen grandchildren" [Obituary, Daily Telegraph, 21 March 1902], and was said to have been "... one of the oldest Chinese residents of Sydney" [The Richmond River and Northern District Advertiser, 26 March]; he died at his residence, 113 Gloucester Street, Sydney, on 22 March 1902 [Obituary]; he was buried at Rookwood (see above photo).

They had issue (with additional details kindly supplied in March 2019 by Victor MOYMOW):

     a. Mary Ann LAW CHONG (no entry yet found in on-line Indexes to Statutory Birth Registers); the "... eldest daughter of Joseph LAW CHONG of 18 Cambridge Street, and niece of Mr and Mrs MOY MOW of 113 Gloucester Street" when she was married, at Bethel House, Sydney, 12 July 1883, to Charles CHIN KITT of Goulburn [Australian Town and Country Journal, Saturday 21 July]; he probably died at George Street, St Peters, 12 April 1922, aged 80 [Goulburn Evening Penny Post, 18 April]; they had issue:
          i. Rosetta KITT, born Argyle, 1890 #4220.
          ii. Clara MITT, born Argyle, 1893 #3998.
          iii. William A. KITT, born at Goulburn, 1899 #30561.
          ? Edward Charles KITT; died at Sydney, 1957 #8459, (parents Charles and Mary Ann).
A Mary Ann KITT died at Paddington in 1956 #3596, but her parents were identified as William Lan and Mary Ann, which is not Joseph, or Ah CHONG, or Margaret, so probably another?

     b. William Henry LAW, born at George Street, Sydney, 1862 (no entry yet found in Indexes to Statutory Birth Registers); as William LAW, of 113 Gloucester Street, Sydney, Clerk, November 1891, when he was granted Voluntary Sequestration, Bankruptcy Court [Australian Star, 10 November]; a Chinese interpreter in several Brisbane Court cases; he died at Toowong, Brisbane, 11 June 1930 #B11171 (parents Joseph LAW CHONG and Margaret SHEEN); he was married at Canterbury, 15 October 1883 #2308, to Henrietta CATTEREL; she sued for divorce, citing her husband's adultery, the decree nisi granted in November 1893 [Australian Star, 3 November]; decree absolute, July 1911 [S.M.H., 5 July]; no evidence found of any issue.

     c. Sarah LAW, born at Sofala, 17 August 1863, Register #13703, as (female) AHCHONG, parents Ah Chong and Margaret, and as (female) SHEEHAN, parent Margaret; as Sarah SORENSON, she died 13 August 1951, aged 88, and was buried in her parents plot at Rookwood; she was married in Sydney, 1884, to John SORENSEN.
     d. Frank Ah LAW, born at Sofala, 28 September 1864 #14960, as Frank AHCHONG, parents Ah Chong and Margaret, also as Frank Ah CHONG, parents AH Chong and Margaret, and as Frank SHEEHAN, mother Margaret; he probably died at Sofala, 8 October 1864 #5883, as un-named AHCHONG, parents Ah Chong and Margaret.

     e. Thomas James LAW, born at Sofala, 15 October 1865 #15324, as Thomas J. AHCHONG, parents Ah Chong and Margaret, also as Thomas James CHONG, parents Ah and Margaret, and as Thomas J. SHEEN, mother Margaret; probably Thomas Joseph LAW, who died at Kingsford, 1942 #18762, parents Joseph and Margaret.

     f. Alfred George LAW, born at Sofala, 3 February 1868 #16551, as Alfred G. AHCHONG, parents Ah Chong and Margaret, and as Alfred G. CHONG, parents AH Chong and Margaret; Private, 9th Battalion, 1st A.I.F.; he died at Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, 27 February 1952 #B36779 (parents Joseph LAW and Margaret SHEEHAN), late of 56 Amelia Street, (Fortitude) Valley, and was cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium, leaving a wife and family; he was married firstly, at Sydney, 1890 #68, to Agnes Ross FRASER; she sued for divorce, the decree nisi granted in March 1893 [Daily Telegraph, 8 March]; they had issue:
          i. Ruby C. LAW, born at Sydney, 1890 #2394.
Alfred was probably married secondly, at Brisbane, 1901 #B921, to Annie SPOONER; with further issue:
          ii. Alexander George LAW, born Brisbane, 1902 #B4860.
          iii. Leslie Alfred LAW, born at Brisbane, 1904 #B8890.
          iv. Walter Leslie LAW, born at Brisbane, 1907 #B15910.
          v. Frederick LAW, born at Brisbane, 1910 #B23880.

     g. Emily Minna Ah LAW, born at Sofala, 27 September 1869 #18270, as Emily M. AHCHONG, parents AH Chong and Margaret, and as Emily M. Ah CHONG, same parents.
     h. un-named AHCHONG, born at Sofala, 3 July 1871 #17722, parents Ah Chong and Margaret.
     j. John R. AHCHONG, born at Sofala, 8 April 1873 #18661, parents Joseph and Margaret; as Robert AHCHONG, he died at Sofala, 1 June 1874 #7843, parents Joseph and Margaret.

     k. Agatha Adalina M. AHCHONG, born at Sofala, 21 February 1875 #19655, parents Joseph and Margaret; she died on 8 September 1930.
     l. Alice Maud AHCHONG, born at Sydney, 17 February 1877 #654, parents Ah Chong and Margaret; she died at Sydney, 1878 #542, parents Joseph and Margaret.
     m. Ada LAW; she died at Chatswood, 1957; she was married in Sydney, 1902 #2736, to Axel Olaf OHLSON, a native of Sweden; 58th Battalion, First A.I.F.; believed to have been killed in the Battle of Fromelles, 1916, but his body was never recovered.
     n. Esther May AHCHONG, born at The Rocks, Sydney, 20 November 1878 #3353, parents Joseph and Margaret.
     o. Margaret Theresa AHCHONG, born at Sydney, 31 September 1880 #2904, parents Ah Chong and Margaret; she died at Newcastle, 2 July 1959.
     p. a daughter, still-born at her parents' residence, 18 Cambridge Street, Sydney, 19 July 1882 [S.M.H., Tuesday 15 August].
     q. a daughter, still-born at her parents' residence, 18 Cambridge Street, 26 May 1883 [S.M.H., 29 May]
     r. Amy C. (or Mary Constance) AHCHONG, born at Sydney, 10 May 1884 #1897, parents Joseph and Margaret; Amy Constance LAW CHONG died at her parents' residence, 113 Gloucester Street, Sydney, 2 September 1887, aged 3 years, "... the seventh daughter of Joseph and Margaret LAW CHONG" [S.M.H., Saturday 3 September].
     s. Ashley V.L. AHCHONG, born Sydney, 26 November 1886, and Registered 1887 #8, parents Joseph and Margaret.
     t. Arthur Ernest CHONG, born Sydney, 5 January 1889 #507, parents Law and Margaret; he died at North Sydney, 1948 #3160, as Arthur Ernest LAW, parents Joseph and Margaret.

Henry Edwah CHONG was born at Mudgee, 1873 #14129, parents Ah and Margaret.
Perhaps Edward Ah CHONG who, in April 1879, "... better known as FEEMAN, left his house on the 12th instant, aged 15. Any information respecting him, or his whereabouts, shall be rewarded by his father, Ah CHONG, Chinese interpreter, 16 Cambridge Street" [Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 15 April]; in August 1883, Edward Ah CHONG, "... a Chinaman, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm upon an infant child of one Kate MAHER... on Saturday night" after she had "... met the prisoner in Cambridge Street" [Daily Telegraph, 18 August], but due to a "... disinclination on the part of the principal witness to give evidence," she being "... a woman named MAHER with whom he was said to be living" [Daily Telegraph, 26 September].
Unless this was the un-named 1871 Sofala birth?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 

2. Sarah SHEEN, born at Concord on 12 August 1859, and baptized at St Patrick's (R.C.), Parramatta, 22 September by Rev Michael BRENNAN, and sponsored by Margaret DICKEN (or DICKSON);
Sarah died on 31 January 1936, aged 85 years, and was buried in the MOY MOW family plot, Rookwood [Anglican, Section 4, Plot 4615].

[Photo taken by the author in December 2018.]

She was married at Elizabeth Street Presbyterian Church, Sydney, 24 December 1867, to John MOY MOW; he was a native of China, and was naturalized in the Colony of N.S.W. on 16 August 1872; he died on 28 January 1886, aged 47 years, and was buried on 29 January at Rookwood [Anglican, Section J, Plot 215 - his inscription is recorded on MOY MOW plot in Anglican, Section 4, plot 4615]:

 [Photo taken by the author in December 2018.]

They had issue:

     a. John A. MOY MOW, born in Paddington, 14 April 1868; died 16 May 1905.

     b. Chong Chu MOY MOW, born in Paddington, 12 April 1870.

     c. Ada Emaline MOY MOW, born 23 May 1873; died 20 January 1953; she was married, 20 April 1892, to Samuel SARSIN.
     d. Albert Cecil MOY MOW, born in Sydney, 30 May 1875; died 10 July 1947.

     d. Maud Eliza MOY MOW, born in Sydney, 1877.

     e. Bertha Jane MOY MOW, born in Sydney, 1879; died in Sydney, 1880.

     f. Rosetta MOW MOY, born in Sydney, 23 September 1880; she had the Shanghai Café in Campbell Street; she died 18 September 1960; she was married on 9 April 1927 to AH Toy.

     g. Arthur Victor MOY MOW, born in Sydney, 22 April 1884.

     h. Rupert H. MOY MOW, born in Sydney, 1 July 1886; died at Newtown, 1922; he was married on 3 April 1912 to Mary Elizabeth ANDREWS. Grandfather of Victor MOYMOW.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 

3. Eliza Ann SHEEN, born 2 July 1853, and baptized on 18 July.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 

4. John SHEEN, born at Chippendale, 24 July 1856; he died at Bathurst Hospital, of Bright's Disease, April 1899, aged 48 years, and was buried in the Catholic Portion of Bathurst Cemetery (there is no gravestone); John SHEIN was married firstly, at Waterloo, 1878 [#1923], to Ellen LEWIS; he was married secondly, at St Michael's (C.of E.), Flinders Street, Surry Hills, 23 December 1882, to Ada Annie PARKER (the register did not record the occupation of John's father, nor name of John's mother); in February 1889, a warrant was issued by the Water Police for the arrest of John SHEEN, charged that he did marry one Ada PARKER, his former wife Ellen LEWIS being then alive [Police Gazette, Wednesday 20 February].
I am under an impression that he may have had issue, but have been unable to locate evidence for same.